Two-way plow



Nov. 20, 1951 o. w. OERMAN TWO-WAY PLOW 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1944 INVENTOR. OREY W. GERMAN ATTOR EYS Nov. 20, 1951 o. w. OERMAN 2,575,527

TWO-WAY PLOW ATTOR S NOV. 20, 195] w GE 2,575,527

TWO-WAY PLOW Filed Aug. 2, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 (I 41 n r m v I 'QsaQ -IIM P IN VEN TOR. OREY W. OERMAN- I a, AZ OS Nov. 20, 1951 o. w. OERMAN TWO-WAY PLOW 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 2, 1944 all m .11 m

IN VENTOR. REY W. OERMAN Nov. 20, 1951 o. w. GERMAN 2,575,527

TWO-WAY PLOW,

Filed Aug. 2, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 7

VIIIIIIIIIIIIIl/llll\\\\\\\\\\\IIIUVIIIIIIIII/fl INVENTOR- OREY w. OERMAN ONEY Nov. 20, 1951 o. w. OERMAN TWO-WAY PLOW 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 2, 1944 INVENTOR OREY W. GERMAN TORNEYS Patented Nov. 20, 1951 TWO-WAY PLOW Orey W. Oerman, Moline, 111., as'signor to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill-., a. corporation of Illinois;

Application August-. 2, 1944', Serial No. 547,784

18 Claims.

The present invention relates generally toagricultural implements and more particularly to two-way plows which are especially adapted for usewhere it is desired to throw all of the furrows in the same direction.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a two-way plow, preferably of the two-bottom type in which the two plowing units are arranged in side-by-side relation, in which new and improved lifting mechanism is provided. More specifically, it is a feature of this invention to provide a laterally shiftable hitch, adapted to be held by suitable latch means in a position at one side or the other of the frame so as to be disposable in a position in front of one or the other of the plowing units, in connection with new and improved mechanism for controlling the latches and actuated by the lifting mechanism. A further feature of this invention is the provision of an adjustable hitch member, with new and improved means for looking the adjustment against displacement, and in this connection it is a further feature of this invention to provide improved raising mechanism in which when the plowing unit is moved into operating position, it is held in that position in a rigid and positive manner, so that the hitch to the plowing unit in operating, position is, in effect, a relatively long beam.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a constant lift type of raising means for an implement of this kind. It is also a feature of this invention to provide fordisabling the automatic latch control so that, when desired, either or both of the plowing units may be raised or lowered without affecting the hitch connection.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred form of the invention has been illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a two-bottom, two- Way plow of the towed type, in which the principles of the. present invention have been incorporated, parts being cut away or omitted in order to show the construction more clearly.

Figure 2 is a side view of the plow shown in Figure l, certain parts being broken away in order to illustrate the features with which the present invention is more particularly concerned.

Figure 3 is a perspective view, showing the hitch controlling cams and associated parts.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cams,

showing the cam disabling means in a position disconnecting the latch control from the lifting mechanism.

Figure 5 isa perspective view showing the lift linkage and associated parts with both the right and the left hand units in a partially raised position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing one of the self-interrupting clutch units and the manner of driving thesame.

Figure 7 is a view taken generally along the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary perspective views showing certaindetails of the latch controlling cams, the cam disabling means, and associated parts;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the" line 1 ll-l 0 ofFigure 8.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral l indicates in its entirety the frame of the implement which, in general, consists of generally longitudinally extending frame bars 2 and 3 connected together at their forward ends by a curved or arcuate section 4 and supported at their rear portions on a pair of ground wheels 5 and" 6 which are respectively fixed to opposite ends of a live axle 1 which pass through journal or bearing members 8 and 9 that are fixed, as by bolts [0, to the rear ends of the bars 2 and 3. A pair of brackets H is fixed to the forward portions of the bars 2 and 3 and are apertured tor eceive a bar or shaft l3 which extends laterally outwardly at opposite sides of the frame I A generally V-shaped brace M with its apex disposed generally laterally inwardly is bolted at its front end, as indicated at 12, to the front portion of the frame bar 2 and at its rear end is bolted, as at [6, to an extension IT on the associated bearing member 8'. A similar brace 15 is likewise attached to the front and rear portions of the frame i The right and left hand plowing units, referred to below, are pivotally connect'ed't'o the shaft I3 for generally vertical swinging movement.

As a part of the frame I', the latter is provided with a lifting frame section 30 which includes a pair of upright bars 3| at each side of the main frame I on which a cross bar or shaft 32 is carried. There is a pair of bars 3'! at each side of the frame, and the bars 3i are reenforced by a downwardly extending diagonal brace 33 at each side of the frame. Secured to each end of the bar 32 is a supporting bracket'36. Each bracket 36 has an upper apertured section. Centrally of the-cross bar-32 is'a pair of brackets 37, and

each pair of brackets 36, 31 supports a rockshaft 38 that is carried for rocking movement in a generally vertical direction.

An arm M is fixed to the outer end of each of the rockshafts 38, adjacent the associated bracket 36. At its outer end each arm 4I carries a member 43, preferably a casting, in which a slot 44 is disposed. A pivot block 45 is disposed in the slot 44 and in threaded engagement with a crank screw adjusting rod 48 which is journaled for rotation in the casting 43 and, when turned by the crank 50, serves to run the pivot block 45 in one direction or the other in the slot 44. Each arm member 43 has a boss 40 to which one end of a leaf spring 42 is fixed. The other end 42a of the leaf spring 42 is rounded and engageable in one of four or more notches 52 formed in an extended flange section 49 of a crank member 50 fixed in any suitable way to one end of the adjusting screw 48. The spring 42 holds the crank from turning out of adjustment. Each arm 4| is provided with a construction of this kind. Also, each pivot block 45 is pivotally connected to the associated plowing unit by bail straps I.

The plowing units are substantially identical, except that one is a right hand unit and the other is a left hand unit, and hence a detailed description of one plow unit will suffice. The right hand plowing unit is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 60 and the left hand plowing unit is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral BI. Referring first to the right hand unit, plow bottoms B2 and 63 are connected, respectively, to the rear ends of plow beams 64 and 65, the latter being somewhat longer than the outer beam 64. At their forward ends the beams 64 and 65 are provided with'brackets 68 and 69 which extend downwardly and are apertured to receive the right end of the cross shaft I3. Preferably, the inner bracket 69 is disposed inside the right frame bar 2, and collars or the like mounted on the shaft I3 serve to hold the brackets 58 and 69 against lateral displacement. The lower ends of the bail straps 5I at the right side of the implement are pivoted to the beams 64 and 65, and the laterally inner beam 65 is disposed between the two vertical bars 3i forming a part of the lifting frame. The ground wheel 5 at the right side of the implement is disposed be-- tween the beams 64 and 65 of the right hand plowing unit 60.

The axle 1 passes through not only the bearing sections 8 and 9 but also the lower rear portion of a clutch casing 53. Secured to the central portion of the live axle I is a drive sprocket 66 over which a chain 61 is disposed. The upper portion of the chain 61 is trained over the driving member 54 of a pair of self-interrupting clutches indicated by the reference numerals 55 and 55. Each self-interrupting clutch is of conventional construction, so far as the present invention is concerned, embodying a driven member II, a driving member 72 connected with the driving sprocket 54. Each driven member II has a notch I4 therein in which the roller end 15 of a trip lever I6 is normally disposed when the clutch is not in operation. Each trip lever has an operating extension 1! to which an operating cable I8 (Figure 3) is connected.- Each driven member II of the clutch includes a shaft section that extends outwardly of the clutch casing 53 and carries a crank 83 secured thereto. Each crank 83 is connected by an upwardly extending link 84 with an arm 85 that is secured, as by welding, to the inner portion of the rockshaft 38 at the side of the plow. Thus, whenever the trip lever section 11 is swung forwardly, the clutch is placed in operation and, deriving energy from the live axle I to which the wheels 5 and 6 are connected, the crank is driven rearwardly and then upwardly and exerts a lifting force through the associated arm 4I and ball straps 5i, lifting the associated plowing unit into a raised or transport position. The clutch parts are so arranged that when the plow is raised, the clutch continues in operation for a slight additional time, suflicient to cause the crank 83 to be moved past a dead-center relationship with the link 84. Then the trip lever I6 drops into another notch 14, thus locking the driven member II of the clutch against further action, whereby the plow is held in a raised position. By pulling on the cable 18, the trip lever I6 may be disengaged from the notch, and this, through suitable mechanism (not shown) causes the driving and driven members of the clutch to engage, whereby the crank 83 is driven through approximately a half revolution, whereupon the trip lever I6 engages in the other notch, thus holding the crank in its other position. In this way, the clutch serves to lock the plow either in its raised position or in its lowered position.

Each of the clutches 55 and 56 therefore represents any known form of power lift apparatus in which parts may be raised or lowered by power and held in a raised or a lowered position.

Normally, the implement is operated with one of the plowing units in lowered or plowing position while the other unit is held in a raised or transport position. In order best to accommodate this arrangement, the main frame I is provided with a laterally swingable hitch unit IIlI which at its forward end is adapted to be hitched to a tractor or some other form of propelling power. The hitch unit IGI comprises a laterally swingable member I93, preferably made up of a pair of vertically spaced bars I94, pivoted at its rear end to a block I85 bolted between the apical portions of the braces I4 and I5. The bars I64 are disposed so as to lie on opposite sides of the arcuate frame section 4, and preferably the member I 03 carries a guide structure Ills which includes upper and lower rollers I87. The guide structure I86 is adapted to be engaged by one or the other of a pair of hitch latches I09 and I I6. Each of these hitch latches is pivotally mounted, as at III, on a clamp support H2 and includes an arm I I3 that is connected by a link H4 to a cam control unit, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I I 5. More detailed description of the cam control unit I I5 will appear below. The forward portion of the hitch member IIII is formed with a section IZI that is pivoted, as at I22, to the member I03. The forward end of the latter includes a vertical support I24 which has its upper end turned forward, as at I25. The member IZI, or forward section of the hitch, includes a pair of vertical side plates I26 and I2! which at their forward ends are connected through a spring cushion unit to a tractor or other propelling means. A vertical tubular section I35 is swiveled, as at I 35, to the laterally spaced plates I26 and I2? and at its upper end is interiorly threaded to receive the lower end of a threaded crank screw adjusting rod I38. The latter extends upwardly through an opening in the support I24. A collar MI is fixed to the adjusting rod I38, and above the support I24 the crank screw adjusting rod I38 is provided with an opening through which a bolt I43 extends. The bolt is disposed in a pair of slots I44 formed 5. I in. i the .hub: section I;4.5.1of a :crank I 46 zthataisrin this mannerzconnected'non-rotatably to :the, :rod I38. 'By virtue of the slots ..t44,-the hub esection I-dihas limited vertical :movement with respect to the rod 133, but whenever .thecrank I'!l6;is;ro tated-therod I3:8.is.likewise rotated in the tubular threaded -member 1135. Therefore, turning .the crank Hi5 willsraiseor lower the front endof :the hitch section IZI. -The uppermostthreaded gend oftherod I33 is. provided witha wing nut .1548 which when tightened serves :to:clamp .therhub section-I ee-down against the support IZQ, drawing thecollar'ilti firmly up-against the underside-of the support section I25. Thus, when the proper adjustment of the frontyendzof the hitch has; been effected, tightening-the wing nut MBserves-to maintain the crank -:I it in position and :prevent displacement thereof. This clamping of the crank against the support .hasin addition 1another important function, namely, to positively clamp or lock the vertically pivoted hitch section t2! against vertical displacement with respect-to the othermember-I-IB that forms a part of the hitch I-QI. The latter, therefore, is a rigidpart, rigidly connected with the framepf the plow through the guide structure I06, and since the plow bottom lowered in operating position is, by its associated self-interrupting clutch, also lockedto-the'frame I, it will-be seen that, when in operating position, the down pair of bottoms swing generallyabout the forward hitch point with the tracton'the hitchi and the frame I, together-with the plow-beams Ed-and :.andassociated parts, all serving ;;as va single :r-igid .relatively long plow beam.

Reference was made above to the fact that the hitch I I) I' is, swingable from one'side'to the other, inorder to dispose the forward end thereof in front of the down bottoms. Reference was also made to the fact that one or other of the latches I09 and I Ill serves to engage a part of the hitch and hold it in one position .or the other. In-normaloperation, when the end of one furrow is reached, the operator pulls the proper cable and raises that plowing unit into a transport posi- 1 tion. He then turns theoutfit around andtthen pullsthe otherplowing unit into operating position. During this action, it is desirable to release the first latch in order to make use of the turning effort to swingthe hitch from one position to the other, and evenwhile both plowing units are in raised position, it isdesired to operate the latches so thatwhen one releases the hitch for swinging toward the other si de,:the other is operated to permit it to "engage the hitch when. it reaches the other side of the frame and thus lock it in a position so that its front end will be in front of the other plowingunit when it is lowered after theoutfit has been turned around and ready to startacross the field. My new and improved hitch'controlling cam mechanism W111 nowbe described. Referring.particularly to Fig-- ures 3 and 4, a plate LEI is disposed transversely of the main frame and is provided with a pair of apertured ears I62 by which the plate IBI may be fastened in place on the frame I by bolting it to thebrace bars I4 and I5. Extending upwardly from each end of the plate ltl is a bracket I64 which is apertured at its upper end, and supported for rotation in the brackets I64.is a cam shaft 165. Another pair .of brackets Its and I5! are also carried by the plate I6I, and the upper ends of these brackets are apertured to receive a cross shaft I68. Mounted on the cross shaft I68 is a pair of levers I'I'I and H2, one being swingablev :generally :in ;a store :and .2 aft direction avith' respectto theother,and each including a tubular bushing .section I73 which facilitates the mounting :of the levers. I'll and .I'I2 ;on the shaft I;68. Each .of .thelevers Ill and il'Z is provided with a pair otforwardly extending apertured lugs I8I between 'which'a roller IE2 is disposed and carried on .a short shaft I83 (Figs. Land .8). Each'lever is provided with a roll-er supp-ortedin this :manner, and cooperating with the rollers just described is:a pair .ofycam members I85 and I 36 welded .or otherwise-firmly fixed to the-cam shaftJfiS. Eachendofthecam shaft carriesza ratchetIB'I,.eachratchet being provided with eight teeth, although the number may vary as desired. The ".ratchets 11:8! are operated bypawl mechanism operated by the clutch cranks 83. Associatedwith the right clutch crank 33 is a rod or link :I9I which, ,at its.forward end, passes through an inverted U-guide I92, and this end of the link or'rod I9! is provided with a pawl member .Ii94 (Figs. 3-5). The rod I93 extends forwardly a short distance beyond the associated pawl I913. The rear end of the .rod or link I-SI is connected at Hi5 with an arm lei-l (Figure 5) that is :fixed to the .lower end of the associated lift link .84 closely adjacent the pivot 596 that connects the lower end of thelink 84 with the crank 83. The pawl construction associated with the left clutch is substantially identical, and hence the same reference numerals have been employed.

The.;right..leverI"I2 is .connected by one .of the links l-l:4;mentioned abovewith the right latch I533, and similarly, the other link I.I4.is connected at its forward end with the left latch I It and at its rear end-with the. lever I! i.

The parts are soarrangedth-at when either clutch is operated to raise the associated plow unit, the latter-portion of movement of the crank 83, as the clutch moves to its raised position, shifts-the associated link I9! forwardly, the pawl L94 engaging the associated ratchet wheel I87. However, the pawl Iiidmoves out of engagement witht-he ratchet wheel I81 by the time the crank 83.re aches its uppermost position, by which time the ratchet wheel has been'rotated througl1-l5 degrees. Thereafter when the associated clutch isagain operated, as to lower the plows, the pawl I94 moves farther forward and then backward, ratcheting over the wheel I8! as-the crank arm reachesiits.lowerjposition, and also as the crank arm 83 swings rearwardly and upwardly during thet-firstpart of the next raising operation. The aforesaid 45 degree movement is sufficient to advance one of the projections on one of the cam members W5, and I86 into-engagement with the roller of one of the levers HI and S12 and to brin Qne'of thedwell portions of the other cam member opposite its lever, for example, the lever I-'I I -as shownin Figure 4;. Whenever the dwell portion of either of the cam members comes oppos-ite the roller on the associated lever, either I..'I.I or I12, that lever is permitted to move forwardly under the action of spring means associated with ,theylatches so that the latch whose linktswings orwardly .is moved into a position toqengage with the swingable hitch whenever it is swung-over toward that side. On the other hand, whenever-the projection portion of the associated :cam -member comes into engagement.

with the roller on the associated lever, ill or 12, thatlever-causes the associated latch link to be shifted rearwardly, thus disengaging the associated .latch fromthe hitch, whereby the..-lattcr is freed for swinging movement toward the other side. The next time the other clutch is operated the cam members I85 and I86 are advanced another 45 degrees, thus reversing the relations of the latches. In this way, whenever either of the clutches is operated to swing the associated crank 83' and link 84 from lowered to raised position, the associated rod :91 is shifted to advance the associated cam mechanism to a point sufilcient to pull one latch away from the hitch and permit the other latch to move into a position engaging the hitch when it is shifted to that side. However, during the first part of the movement of the crank 83 as it is rotated back to its lowered position the pawl I94 merely moves forwardly away from the associated ratchet wheel I81, whereby the operation of either of the clutches when moving from a raised position to a lowered position has no effect so far as advancing the cam means is concerned. Thus, one lach is released when one of the plowing units is raised, but the relationship of the latches is not changed by the fact that as soon as the outfit has been turned around the other clutch is operated to lower the other plowing unit. However, at the end of the next round, when said other plowing unit is to be raised the consequent operation of the clutch associated with that unit now serves to advance the cam mechanism, thus releasing the hitch latch that previously held the hitch in position so that now the hitch is free to turn toward the other side and, at the same time, the latch at the other side is disposed in a position ready to engage the hitch when it is swung to that side and to lock it in that position. In this way, merely by raising one or the other of the plowing units through the associated power lifting apparatus, the hitch latches are properly controlled to lock the hitch, first at one side and next at the other side of the plow, in succession.

There may arrive times, however, when the operator desires to raise the plow out of operating position but without reversing the position of the hitch controlling latches. According to the present invention this operation may be accommodated by momentarily disabling the connection between the lifting mechanism and the hitching controlling latches. Referring now more particularly to Figure 4, a bracket 2M is bolted to each of the brackets I66 and I6! and rockingly supports a swingable bail member 205 which is provided with a pair of arms 206 and 2&7. Each of the arms 205 and 28? is provided with a laterally outturned section 288 on which a small plate 209 is fixed, as by welding, the plate 209 being disposed at a certain angle to and disposed in the plane of the associated cam advancing pawls 194. The rocking member 205 is provided with a rearwardly and upwardly extending operating lever or arm 2I2 to which the rear end of a cable H3 is fixed. Forwardly of the arm 2l2 the cable H3 is provided with a knot 215, and this knot is normally engaged in the narrowed section 2H6 of a loop 2 H bolted to the upper end of a standard or strut 2l8 which, at its lower end, is secured to a plate 219 carried by the laterally swingable hitch lfil. Laterally extending arms 22! and 222 are also carried by the standard 218 and these arms have loops through which the clutch controlling cables 18 are supported. The knot H5 is disposed in such a position that it normally holds the ends of the bail 205 out of the path of movement of the pawls I94. This permits the cam operating travel, as over a terrace, a drain channel, or the like, to immediately drop the same operating unit, which would require that the hitch [0| be held in the same position, it is necessary to disable the cam operating mechanism. According to the present invention, this is done by the operator releasing the knot 2I5 from the loop 2" and permitting the spring 224, which is connected between the plate It! and the lever 2l2, to swing the latter rearwardly, elevating the forward extensions 299 up into a position such that, when the clutch or clutches are operated, the pawls I94 are not permitted to engage the ratchets I81. Hence, the hitch latches I09 and H0 are unaffected and the hitch member l0! remains latched in its original position. After dropping the plow bottoms so as to resume normal operation, the operator may condition the implement for automatically shifting the hitch latches at the end of the row merely by pulling forward on the cable 213 and engaging the knot H5 in the narrow portion 2I6 of the loop 2".

It will be noted, particularly from Figure 2, that the plow is a constant lift plow since the slots 44 in the outer ends of the arms M are horizontal, or more particularly, perpendicular with respect to the lifting bail straps 5|, because in this position the unit that is raised is always raised to substantially the same position entirely independently of the position of the pivot block 45 along the threaded portion 48 of the crank screw that adjusts the pivot block 45. However, when the plow is in lowered or operating position, the operating depth is controlled by the position of the pivot block 45 with respect to the arm 4!.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely diiferent means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A two-way plow comprising a frame, a pair of wheels and a live axle to which said wheels are fixed carrying said frame, a pair of right and left hand units movably connected with said frame, a clutch casing carried by the latter and having a portion receiving said live axle, a pair of separately operable part-revolution clutches in said casing, means connecting one clutch to the right hand unit, means connecting the other clutch to the left hand unit, and means within said casing portion for driving both of sai clutches from said live axle.

2. A towed two-way plow comprising a wheeled frame, a pair of right and left hand units connected therewith for movement into and out of working position, a hitch pivoted thereto and swingable laterally from one position to another, depending on which of said units is in working position, a pair of latches, one for each position, for optionally locking said hitch in either position, means for controlling said latches'comprising a pair of simultaneously operable cam sections adapted to move either latch out of .engaged position and'release the other latch for enga'gement'with'said hitch; a pairof'half-revoluttionclutches connected to raise saidunits; and mechanism for causin'g each of said clutches: to operate said cam sections and: controlzsai'd latches.

3. A two-way plow of the tractor drawn type, comprising a frame, a pair of right'a'nd left'hand units movably connected with said frameand adapted to be alternately-lowered into ani'operat ingposition, a hitch pivotally connected with the central portion of the frame for. lateral swinging so as to be disposable inia position with the front end thereof generally in. the? line; of draft passing through the unit'inilower.ed.:piosi tion; mechanism for. raising and lowering said unitsalternately, means actuated by said'mechasnism for controlling the. position of said-hitch, andmeans for disabling said hitch controlling means whereby said units may be raisedv and lowered without affecting said hitch.

4. An agricultural implement of the tractor drawn type, comprising a frame, a hitch pivoted to the frame for lateral movement into and out of two: separate positions, a pair of latches op,- erable, respectively, to hold said hitch in either of its positions, tool means adapted to be shifted from one position to. the other, means for controlling said latches comprising a pair of simultaneously operable cam sections adapted to move either latch out of engaged position andrelease theiother latch for engagement withsaid hitch, self-interrupting clutch mechanism for shifting saidtool means, releasable means actuated by said mechanism for moving said cam sections according to the position of said tool means, and optionally operable means for releasingsaidreleasable means whereby operation of said clutch mechanism may take place without moving said cam sections.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4, further characterized by said. cam moving means including a ratchet connectedwith said camsections. and a pawl operatedby said clutch mechanism for. advancing said cam sections.

6; The invention set forth in claim 4, further characterized by said cam moving means including aratchet connected with said cam sections and a pawl operated by said clutch mechanism foradvancing said cam sections, said optionally operable'means comprising a part disposable. in a. position to hold saidratchet and pawl separated.

7. A.traotor propelled two-way plow comprising a wheel-supported frame, a pair of right and left hand plowing. units movably connected with said frame, means for raising either or both. of said units into inoperative position, a hitch member pivotally connected with said frame for lateral swinging so as to dispose the forward end of said hitch member in line with the plowing unit in lowered position, latch means forholding the hitch member in either of its laterally disposed positions, latch controlling means releasably connected with said raising means and operative whenever either plowing unit is moved into a raised position to operate said latch means and release said hitch for movement into its other position, and means providing for raising and lowering either of said plowing units without releasing the hitch, comprising means for temporarily disconnecting said latch controlling means from said raising means.

8. In an agricultural implement having a frame, a live axle journaled thereon, a pair of wheels fixed to said axle, a shiftable hitch memher movablein'to and out of two separate positions;: latch-meansoperable alternately to hold saidfh'itch'member in one or the other of said positions; and cam means for operating'said latch means alternately, the combination therewith of a pair of ratchet members fixedly connected with said cammeans for operating the same, a pair of separately operable part-revolution clutches, means for driving both of said clutches from said live' axle, and a pair of pawl members connectin'g said'clutches with said ratchet members, re sp'ectively; whereby the ope'ratio'n of either of said olutch'esacts through one or the other of said ratchet :m'embersto operate said cam means and contrcl 'said latch means.

9;?In an agricultural implement having a shift ablem'emb'er movable into and out of two separate positions, latch-means operable alternately to hold sai'd member: in one or the other ofsaid positions; and cam means for operating said'latch meanslalternately, the combination therewith of a'pairlo'f ratchet members fixedly connected with sai'dlcam means foroperating the same, a pair of" separately operable part-revolution clutches, means-for driving both of said clutches, and a pair of aw-l members connecting said clutches Withsaidratchet members, respectively, whereby the operationof either of said clutches'acts through one or the other of 'saidratchet members to operatesaid'cam means and control said'latch means: v

10. In an agricultural'implement; a frame, a

pair of right andleft hand units movably con-'- nected with saidframe'and adapted to be moved separatelyinto and out-'of'worlging position, a member pivotally connected with said framefor swingingv movement so as tobe disposable in a position:- with the front end thereof generally 'in.the line of draft passing through the unit-in working position, mechanism for moving said unitsseparately; means actuated by said'mechani'srn for controlling theposition of said member, andt m'earis'for disabling said controlling" means whereby saidunits may be moved into and out of working position without affecting said member;

' 11'. In an agricultural implement, a frame, a pair of ri'ght' and left'hand units movably connected w-ith said frame and adapted to be moved separately "into 7 and out of" working position, a hitch member" pivotally connected with said frame 'for swinging movement'so as to be dis posable inaposition With'th'e front end thereof generally in the line of draft passing through the unit in: working position, a pair of latches for releasably holding said hitch member in different positions, cam means for shifting said latches; a pair of ratchet wheels connected to operate'said cam-means, a pair of pawls for operating saidratchet wheels, a pair of clutch" units for raising and lowering saidunits, and means for operating said pawl's, respectively; from said pawl and ratchet means for moving said cam means, and disabling means for holding the pawl means out of contact with the associated ratchet means whereby said units may be moved into and out of working position without affecting said hitch member.

13. In an agricultural implement including a frame, a laterally shiftable hitch member connected with the frame, and a pair of latches for releasably holding said hitch member in either of two positions, latch control means comprising a transverse cam shaft having a pair of cams thereon, cam follower means extending between said cams and said latches, respectively, a ratchet fixed to said cam shaft, a pawl for operating said ratchet, and disabling means comprising a movable part engageable with said pawl for moving said pawl out of connection with said ratchet.

14. In a two-way plow, a frame, a pair of right and left hand plow units connected therewith, a laterally swingable hitch member pivotally connected with said frame, a pair of laterally spaced latches for releasably holding said hitch member in either of two positions, a pair of latch controlling units, links extending therefrom to said latches, a pair of ratchet units for actuating said latch controlling units, means for supporting said ratchet and latch controlling units on said frame adjacent the pivot of said hitch member, a pair of lifting clutches mounted on said frame for raising and lowering said plow units, and a pair of pawls actuated, respectively, by said lifting clutches for operating said ratchet units.

15. In a two-way plow, a frame, a live axle parallel therein, ground wheels connected with said axle for driving the same, a, pair of right and left hand plow units connected with said frame, a laterally swingable hitch member pivotally connected with said frame, a pair of laterally spaced latches for releasably holding said hitch member in either of two positions, a pair of latch controlling units, links extending therefrom to said latches, a pairof ratchet units for actuating said latch controlling units, means for supporting said ratchet and latch controlling units on said frame adjacent the pivotv of said hitch member, a pair of lifting clutches mounted on said frame for raising and lowering said plow units, means for driving said clutches from said axle, and a pair of pawl links connected with said clutch cranks, respectively, and extending therefrom forwardly to said ratchet units, respectively, for actuating the latter and said latch cams.

16. In a two-way plow, a frame, a live axle 'journaled therein, ground wheels connected with said axle for driving the same, a pair of right and left hand plow units connected with said frame, an elongated clutch casing carried at one end on said frame, the other end of said casing receiving and supported on said axle, a pair of separately actuable clutches carried in said casing and driven from said axle, each clutch including a lifting crank disposed exteriorly of said casing, a laterally swingable hitch member pivotally connected with said frame, a pair of laterally spaced latches for releasably holding said hitch member in either of two positions, a pair of latch controlling units, and meansconnected with said lifting cranks for actuating said latch controlling units. I

17. In a, two-way plow having a laterally swingable hitch member and latches for releasably holding said member in either of two positions, a latch-controlling cam unit comprising a cam shaft, a pair of cams thereon, a support for said shaft, a pair of cam follower levers pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of ratchets on said shaft, a pair of oscillatable pawls for advancing said ratchets, and a disabler member movably mounted on said support and including means engageable with said pawls for holding them out of operative connection with said ratchets.

18. In a two-way plow having a laterally swingable hitch member and latches for releasably holding said member in either of two positions, 2. latch-controlling cam unit comprising a cam shaft, a pair of cams thereon, a support for said shaft, a pair of cam follower levers pivotally mounted on said support, a pair of ratchets on said shaft, a pair of oscillatable pawls for advancing said ratchets, and a disabling lever pivotally mounted on said support and including a pair of pawl-engaging sections for holding said pawls out of operative connection with said ratchets.

OREY W. OERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,265,902 Gerhard May 14, 1918 1,377,047 Altgelt May 3, 1921 1,765,788 Daniel June 24, 1930 1,813,506 Strandlund -1 July 7, 1931 1,817,085 Lindgren et al Aug. 4, 1931 1,832,010 Gallagher Nov. 17, 1931 1,864,639 Grezee June 28, 1932 1,864,958 Strandlund June 28, 1932 2,188,413 Markel Jan. 30, 1940 2,249,861 Silver July 22, 1941 2,298,553 Ego Oct. 13, 1942 2,327,927 Orelind Aug. 24, 1943 2,329,193 Frank Sept. 14, 1943 2,363,901 Silver Nov. 28, 1944 2,385,935 Oerman Oct. 2, 1945 2,433,147 Orelind et al Dec. 23,1947 2,437,879 Ferguson Mar. 16, 1948 2,440,782 Orelind May 4, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date .Great Britain Mar. 25, 1942 

